News and Notes:
- After hitting their own teammates in training camp for two weeks, the Chiefs are starting to get hungry to see a different color. In past seasons, the Chiefs have held scrimmages to break up the first few weeks and to get a different look from an opponent. For the last three seasons, Kansas City has tangled with the Vikings in a two-day joint practice. This year however, with Minnesota on the preseason schedule this Friday night, the teams decided to pass on the scrimmage. That just makes players like FB Tony Richardson more excited to get the games underway.

“Once those lights come on and the first snap, that is when you really get back into it and you realize the season is really starting,” the two-time Pro Bowler said. “You really look forward to it; you always look forward to your first hit. The good thing about it is it gives you the opportunity to kind of have a trial run. You are able to go in for five or six plays, critique those plays, see how you can get better and then get ready for September 11th.”

Rookie LB Derrick Johnson is looking forward to his first taste of NFL action Friday, as well. Johnson has been in camp for a little over a week now, but says he is feeling comfortable and itching for a chance to prove it in a game.

“Oh man, I am excited about this first preseason game,” Johnson said. “It’s an opportunity for me and the coaches and the players. It’s an opportunity to be a part of this defense and help these guys out this year.”

- An intimidating storm blew through River Falls on Tuesday evening, forcing the Chiefs to go inside for the afternoon practice. The club was still able to work on installation and game preparation for the Vikings, and will continue to do so this afternoon.

- Wednesday was a busy media day for the Chiefs players. Several national reporters and media outlets were observing today’s practices and interviewing different players. Among those in attendance were Clark Judge from CBSsportsline.com, John Czarnecki of Foxsports.com and Adam Schefter of NFL Network, as well as a crew from NFL Films.

Position Analysis: Left Tackle
For the fourth year in a row, the Chiefs have the luxury of having one of the game’s best players at one of the game’s most critical positions. Ten-time Pro Bowler T Willie Roaf has started 48 straight games at left tackle since joining the Chiefs in 2002. Despite being in his 13th NFL season, Roaf has showed no signs of aging during this training camp. His almost always perfect footwork and surprising athletic ability make him ideal for the position. QB Trent Green certainly appreciates having Roaf protecting his blind side.

Behind Roaf are a number of able-bodied reserves including third-year pro T Jordan Black. A fifth-round draft pick in 2003, Black has been working at both tackle positions after starting the final four games of the 2004 season at right tackle. Veterans John Welbourn, Chris Bober, Brett Williams all have tackle experience, but are currently listed on the team’s depth chart at other posts along the offensive line.

Rookies Will Svitek and Jeremy Parquet are learning the craft as they go, but come from very different collegiate backgrounds. Parquet joined the club as a seventh-round draft pick out of Southern Mississippi and owns 39 career starts, with most coming at right tackle. Svitek on the other hand was a sixth-round draft pick out of Stanford with far less offensive line experience. Svitek made 18 starts for the Cardinal, but all of them came as a defensive end. Blessed with a perfect frame for an NFL tackles (6-6, 300 pounds), Svitek is on a crash course to make the conversion from D-line to O-line.

Training Campfire Stories: Today’s 15th anniversary story from River Falls takes a look back at the Chiefs initial scouting trip to River Falls, Wisconsin in ‘89. After training in Liberty, Missouri for 27 seasons, then-head coach Marty Schottenheimer was seeking a new locale for the team to escape the blistering summer heat. After taking location scouting trips to Thousand Oaks, California and Vail, Colorado, as well as Wisconsin sites that included UW - Whitewater, UW - Eau Claire and UW - Stout, a group of four Chiefs personnel members ascended on UW - River Falls.

Hosted by University representative and evidently crack salesperson Mary Halada, the Chiefs brass stayed at the local Best Western Motel. The lodging decision was easy—it was the only motel in River Falls. Executive Vice President and Assistant GM Denny Thum remembers asking for a wake call for the following morning, only to be handed a wind-up alarm clock.

Thum recalls waking up for their first morning in River Falls and being greeted by a snowstorm that left a four-foot drift outside their motel room. After a nice tour of the facilities (residence halls, cafeteria, locker rooms, etc.), they visited the practice fields at Ramer Field. With two feet of snow on the ground, Halada assured the Chiefs personnel that under that snow were the most gorgeous fields anyone had ever seen. Her sales pitch worked and the Chiefs inked a deal to make River Falls their summer home. Now 15 years later, the Red and Gold still call Wisconsin home for a few weeks each year.

River Falls Weather:
Temperature: 77 degrees
Heat Index: 79 degrees

Kansas City Weather:
Temperature: 90 degrees
Heat index: 93 degrees

A Look Ahead: Thursday will be the Chiefs last day of preparation before their first preseason game at the Minnesota Vikings. Kansas City is scheduled to have a one-hour walk-through in sweats beginning at 10:30 a.m.

Rukdafaidas

08-10-2005, 02:49 PM

By Patrick Herb

News and Notes:

Hosted by University representative and evidently crack salesperson Mary Halada, the Chiefs brass stayed at the local Best Western Motel.
Damn, I bet the Carl Peterson doesn't like this guy for telling stories about the day they bought crack and stayed at the Best Western.